The Fostering Network: Becoming a trustee of the Fostering Network

Become a trustee of the Fostering Network

The Fostering Network is a membership organisation and it is governed by a board of trustees who are also directors of the company. The trustee board is elected by the members of the Fostering Network. Once elected, a trustee serves for three years before having to stand again for re-election. Elections take place every year, usually in the autumn. This year nominations must be received by 28 September 2007 and elected candidates will be announced at the AGM on 24 November. Read on for further information on this year's election process.

This year information sessions are being held in September in London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast for members who are interested in standing for election. You do not have to attend an information session in order to stand for election, but doing so should help you to decide if becoming a trustee is right for you.

What do trustees do?

Trustees of the Fostering Network are trustees of the charity and directors of the company. They are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the Fostering Network.

The main duties of the trustees are to:

act in the best interests of the Fostering Network at all times and to the benefit of present and future beneficiaries
ensure that the Fostering Network complies with its memorandum and articles of association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
ensure that the Fostering Network pursues its objects as defined in the memorandum and articles of association
set the strategic direction of the Fostering Network, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating the performance against these targets
be responsible for the appointment and ongoing management of the chief executive
safeguard the good name and values of the Fostering Network
ensure the financial solvency and efficient running of the Fostering Network and monitor its financial health
protect the Fostering Network’s property and resources
identify all risks and ensure appropriate steps are taken to mitigate against these
abide by the Fostering Network’s code of conduct for trustees.

How often do trustees meet?

The trustee board meets four times a year in London. Trustees come from all over the UK and some have to stay overnight in order to be able to attend meetings. In addition there is usually a residential for trustees that lasts for about a day and a half, and the AGM. Some trustees are also interested in attending conferences and there may be opportunities to be involved in other activities.

The Fostering Network will pay all out of pocket expenses in order that trustees can attend meetings. Training is provided for new trustees who are also paired with an experienced trustee for their first year.

What do I need to become a trustee of the Fostering Network?

Elected trustees are all members of the Fostering Network and a majority must be foster carers; others will be involved with fostering services. As a consequence, the trustee board has enormous experience of foster care and this is most important for the organisation. The Fostering Network and its trustees are passionate about foster care and the importance of improving the lives of children and young people in foster care.

Trustees need a wide range of skills and experience if the trustee board is to do its job. Typically it is important that the trustee board has members with experience of financial management, setting strategic objectives and evaluating outcomes, trends and developments in children’s social care, influencing the development of policy and practice, marketing, fundraising, human resources, the management of staff and resources.

Not all trustees need all these skills. Each trustee brings their own skills and experience but it might be helpful to think about the particular skills and experience you can offer as a trustee.

I'm interested in becoming a trustee, how do I stand for election?

In order to stand for election, you must fulfil certain criteria. You must have up to date membership as an individual member, a member of an affiliated group or an employee of an organisational member and you must be resident in the UK.

If you are elected as a trustee, you will be asked to sign a declaration that you:

are over age 18
are not an undischarged bankrupt
have not previously been removed from trusteeship of a charity by a Court or the Charity Commissioners
are not under a disqualification order under the Company Directors’ Disqualification Act 1986
are, in light of the above, not disqualified by the Charities Act 1993 (Section 72) from acting as a charity trustee
undertake to fulfil your responsibilities and duties as a trustee of the Fostering Network in good faith and in accordance with the law and within the Fostering Network’s objectives and mission
do not have any financial interests in conflict with those of the Fostering Network, either in person or through family or business connections, except those which you have formally notified in a conflict of interest statement. You will specifically notify any such interest at any meeting where trustees are required to make a decision which affects your personal interests, and you will absent yourself entirely from any decision on the matter and not vote on it.

You will also undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check.

The election process

If you are eligible to stand for election, you will need to complete a nomination form. Nomination forms are sent to all members of the Fostering Network at the beginning of September. You should complete the nomination form, ensuring that you obtain supporting signatures from two other members and return this to the Fostering Network together with your 150 word election statement by 5.00pm on 28 September 2007.

Ballot papers accompanied by the election statements of all the candidates will be sent to all members in week beginning 22 October 2007.

The names of elected candidates will be announced at the AGM on 24 November. The first board meeting that elected candidates will be able to attend follows on 29 November at 11.00am. It is recommended that if you stand for election, you keep this date free in the event that you are elected.

I don't want to become a trustee however I would like to be involved in the work of the Fostering Network. Is there something else I could do?

We welcome the involvement of members in our work. There are country advisory committees in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, some of our projects have advisory committees, we keep a list of foster carers interested in talking to the media about foster care, and many members have signed up for the rapid response group. To find out more about opportunities to be involved in the work of the Fostering Network, email info@fostering.net

How can I find out more about the Fostering Network?

The Fostering Network website has lots of information about the work of the Fostering Network. Use the menu on the right to read about current trustees, find a copy of our annual report or see our memorandum and articles of association which is our governing document.

Find out more about being a trustee form a current trustee: if you would like to talk to one of our current trustees, email Jim Bond, chair of the board, on chair@fostering.net. He will put you in touch with other trustees who you can talk to about becoming a trustee.

For further information about becoming a trustee of the Fostering Network, contact Rosa Leaman on 020 7620 6400 or email rosa.leaman@fostering.net

If you would like to find out more about the responsibilities of directors and trustees, you may find the following organisations of interest: